Report to the Community 2015-2016 On the rise On the rise 2015 - 2016 Report to the Community A Message From the President We are excited to present to you the 2015-16 Lee College Community Report. This is your community college, and you will find this report packed with information about all of the great things happening at Lee College. The report’s theme, “On the Rise”, is a tribute to the unprecedented growth of the College, which traces its origins back to 1934. What a legacy for this community and for its graduates. Not a day goes by that I do not meet someone who attended Lee College, had a family member who attended, or who worked at this wonderful institution. The pride this community has for Lee College is evident. It is amazing to see the ongoing support for such a premier institution of higher education. To cap it off, this fall’s enrollment, at 7,280 students, is the highest ever achieved. Furthermore, our students are enrolling in more courses with the goal of completing their studies in a timely manner so they can transfer to a university or enter the workforce. This fall we increased our student contact hours by 19.5%, among the highest of all community colleges in the State of Texas. As you peruse the report, you will see the national, state and regional recognitions Lee College has achieved. Our community engagement has been significantly enhanced by the acquisition of a Mobile Go Center on wheels, funded by the Pioneer Foundation. Through the rolling Mobile Go Center we can take Lee College to all 14 school districts in our service area as well as many other sites. The College’s outstanding instructional programs, ranging from the Center for Workforce and Community Development to the stellar academic transfer and technical programs of study, set this institution of higher education apart from most other community colleges. The exceptional caliber of our faculty and staff has propelled Lee College to the forefront of cutting edge education. The tremendous support of the nine member Board of Regents and the President’s Senior Cabinet has been invaluable in moving Lee College forward. Lee College is all about making students’ dreams come true. The Lee College Foundation, and the fabulous work of its Board, ensures that students have the resources to remain focused and engaged with their education. Simply put, the Foundation has made it possible for so many students to “finish what they started.” The hard work of the Foundation Board led to the milestone of surpassing $10 million for the first time in its history. Foundation funds have made going to college and earning a certificate or degree a reality for many students through scholarships and providing support for textbook costs. Finally, if you have not stopped by Lee College recently, now is a good time. The campus remains beautiful and vibrant. The marvelous Performing Arts Center has hosted many excellent music, dramatic and cultural events. Rundell Hall has been completely renovated and is open for business, a 15,000 square foot addition to the Nursing facility is underway, renovations to the technical facilities on the main campus have started, and the McNair Center has a new 50,000 square foot expansion. This was possible due to the generous support of voters in their approval (72%) of a $40 million general obligation bond in 2013. In spring 2016, the Lee College Education Center in South Liberty County began offering college classes for high school students and the adult population in the surrounding communities. Wow! So many exciting things are happening. Enjoy reading On the Rise: Lee College’s Community Report for 2015-16. Dr. Dennis Brown A Message From the Chairman Since my election to Lee College’s Board of Regents in 1998 and my subsequent election as Chairman in 2015, I have had the privilege of participating in many of Lee College’s successes. And it’s safe to say there have been many. But the last five years have been exceptional. We have seen continued growth in enrollment, overwhelming support from the community and industry, expansion of critical programs and the addition of our McNair facility as well as the Lee College Education Center of South Liberty County. Lee College is an essential component to the improvement of our region’s quality of life as well its growth and economic diversification. The Board of Regents has worked with Dr. Dennis Brown and all our dedicated employees to position Lee College as the education and training leader it is today. From being recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges and the Aspen Institute for student success, faculty innovation and overall excellence, to earning more than $7.5 million in competitive grant funding and leading regional efforts to prepare new generations of skilled workers and technological innovators for high-demand careers, our over- arching goal has been to provide an exemplary education to our students, actively support our partners in business and industry and provide opportunities for cultural enrichment and life-long learning to our communities. I believe we have done that. I couldn’t be prouder of the work we have all been committed to on behalf of our students and the communities we serve. I have no doubt that together, Lee College will continue to thrive as an institution “On The Rise.” Ronn Haddox Board of Regents Ronald D. Haddox Mark Hall Chairman, Elected 1998 Secretary, Elected 2002 Mr. Haddox has his own law practice in Baytown and serves Mr. Hall is the owner of Carpethaus Flooring America and as chairman of the Baytown Industrial District Appraisal attended Lee College for two years before transferring to Sam Board. A graduate of Lamar University and the South Texas Houston State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree College of Law, he is also a member of the Board of Directors in business administration. He has been a Baytown Kiwanian of the Baytown Homeless Shelter and a lifetime member of the for 36 years, serving as president, and is past board chairman of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Baytown Christian Academy. He and his wife Nancy are active members of Memorial Baptist Church. Pete C. Alfaro Vice Chairman, Elected 2006 Wayne Gray Mr. Alfaro served on the Baytown City Council for 15 years, as Assistant Secretary, Elected 1986 mayor for 11 years and city councilman for 4 years, and is a Mr. Gray worked as a chemist for 23 years and was in the retail professional engineer in the state of Texas. A past president pharmacy business for 45 years. A lifelong Baytonian and of the Rotary Club of Baytown and active member of many graduate of the University of Houston, he is a member of the community organizations, he earned a Bachelor of Science Community Resource Credit Union Board and has served as degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas. chairman of the Baytown Parks and Recreation Board since 1966. Dr. Keith Coburn Elected 1986 Dr. Coburn practiced dentistry in his native Baytown for 30 years and has worked as a consultant in the dental laboratory business for the last decade. He began his studies at Lee College as a high school student and attended the University of Texas and later graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch. Weston Cotten Elected 2015 Mr. Cotten is a lifelong resident of the Baytown area, where he continues to practice law and served for 18 years on the board of the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. He is a graduate of Lee College and Stephen F. Austin University. Mark Himsel Elected 2002 Mr. Himsel was employed by Amegy Bank for more than 25 years and now continues his career in the banking industry as vice president of Fiserv Solutions. He is a graduate of Lee College, where many members of his family have also From left to right: Dr. Dennis Brown, Weston Cotten, Dr. Keith Coburn, Mark Himsel, Mark attended, and Sam Houston State University. Hall, Judy Jirrels, Pete C. Alfaro, Ronald D. Haddox, Susan Moore-Fontenot, Wayne Gray Judy Jirrels Elected 2004 Mrs. Jirrels is a second-grade teacher in the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. She is a graduate of Lee College and the University of North Texas, where she majored in fashion merchandising. Susan Moore-Fontenot Elected 1988 Ms. Moore-Fontenot completed 38 years in public education before retiring as director of personnel for the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. A graduate of Lee College, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and holds a master’s degree in educational supervision from Lamar University. She has been an adjunct instructor for two community colleges in the Gulf Coast area for over 10 years and serves as an independent contractor in the area of Human Resources. President’s Senior Cabinet Dr. Dennis Brown Layton Childress President Dean of Applied Sciences Dr. Christina Ponce Dr. Michael Fleming Executive Vice President Executive Director of Institutional Research, Effectiveness & Planning Steve Evans David Jaroszewski Vice President of Finance & Administration Dean of Academic Studies (interim) DeDe Griffith Dr. Carolyn Lightfoot Vice President of Instruction (interim) Chief Information Officer Debi Jordan Donna Zuniga Vice President of Workforce and Corporate Partnerships Dean of the Huntsville Center Dr. Donnetta Suchon Vice President of Student Affairs Table of Contents 1 National, State & Regional Recognition 3 Community Engagement 7 Student & program highlights 11 Workforce & Community Development 13 Faculty & Staff Highlights 15 Lee College Alliance 16 Lee College Foundation National, State & Regional Recognition Since its founding more than 80 years ago, Lee College has been the region’s primary driver for the development of an educated and skilled workforce.